AFTER a campaign that ended in heartbreak and frustrating failure for his Arsenal team, manager Arsene Wenger is convinced his Young Guns can secure silverware next season.

So much so, that even though it might be three long seasons since the Gunners won a trophy – the FA Cup – Wenger would not be the slightest bit surprised if his side achieved an unprecedented clean sweep next season.
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It is no mere, or idle, boast from the Frenchman, who has transformed football in this country with his methods and his manner.
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It is just a deeply-held conviction and knowledge of his crop of exciting talents, that they could potentially eclipse the other great sides in his dozen-year reign.
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Confidence is also based on the evidence of a campaign that saw his team run out of steam.
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Arsenal finished third, pipped by champions Manchester United, and somehow lost a see-saw Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool.
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After three titles, two Doubles and a first Champions League final, Wenger knows what he is talking about.
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He said: “I think we can win everything. We are very, very close.
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“Now that the Champions League final has become an FA Cup final [after Manchester United beat Chelsea in Moscow] the team who is very strong in England has a good chance to win the European Cup.
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“The Premier League title goes down to one game, won or lost.”
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Arsenal finished four points behind United, but crucially lost both away League games 2-1 against nearest title rivals, Chelsea and United, inside three weeks in March and April after taking the lead.
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The Gunners lost just three times – two less than United – and scored more Premier League goals (74) than anyone else other than United (80). However, they conceded the most goals in the top four (31).
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Cesc Fabregas and Alexander Hleb pulled the strings, while Emmanuel Adebayor supplied a cutting edge, and Wenger says his team were the tops on the attacking front.
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He said: “I believe overall quality, going forward, we were the best team in the League. However, Arsenal conceded 10 more goals than the others and that made the difference.
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“It’s very difficult to take a perspective in what people expected from us at the start of the season, and the fact we are disappointed for not winning the championship.
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“We have done beyond expectation, but, as well, we are disappointed beyond expectation as we have not won the championship. But we feel we are very, very close.”
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Two of the really pivotal decisions came in Arsenal’s 2-2 Premier League draw at Birmingham in February.
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Croatia striker Eduardo suffered a broken leg while penalty decisions went against Arsenal, including a last-gasp Birmingham equaliser with a spot-kick.
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Wenger, speaking in the Arsenal Season Review 2007/2008 DVD, said: “It’s very difficult to swallow because, on the day, so much happened.
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“But, then again, maybe we could not deal with that frustration and that’s what we have to learn, to keep our calm and continue to win just the next game.”
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Then came Arsenal’s two Champions League quarter-final matches against Liverpool, when they were not awarded a penalty at the Emirates, but conceded a dubious spot-kick near the end of the second leg at Anfield. Wenger said: “We do not want luck as we want to make our own luck.
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We just want the right decisions.
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“So it goes completely against us in one game and completely against us in the second game. That is, of course, difficult.”
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Two of the jewels in the Arsenal’s crown – and why Wenger is so confident about his side’s prospects next season – was the form of Spanish playmaker Fabregas and 30-goal Togo striker Adebayor.
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The Gunners’ manager, talking about Fabregas, said: “He has become a little boss now in midfield.”
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And on Adebayor, Wenger said: “He is strong in the air and has a good technique. He has a good running power; he has a bit of everything.
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“He has scored some sensational goals, remember the Tottenham goal [in the League at White Hart Lane]. But he still has more to give.”
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A young Arsenal line-up lost in the Carling Cup semi-finals against a rampant Tottenham side, but Wenger will maintain his youthful policy in that competition, which comes way down his list of priorities.
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The manager added: “The further you go, the more that you are tempted to put in some experienced players.
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“But I will have to resist doing that because we got some Carling Cup injuries again this year.
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“And even though we lose, we have to stick even with a younger side than we used to do.
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“But overall we have been remarkably consistent, and that’s what we want to keep.
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“Keep the quality, come back and show your strength next season, because we are a very young side and we can only be better next year.”
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